Speech #640069790

So we have need for this legislation now. as we have never needed it before. and I believe that the political party that defeats this bill. whether its defeat be accomplished by one means or another. will have to answer to American labor when American labor has another chance to speak at the polls. Mr. Chairman. on September 5. 1912. after the President had been nominated. he made an address before tlhe Association of Foreign Language Newspapers in New York City. and was reported by the papers as saying on that occasion: I am speaking to you as also Americans with myself. and just as much American as myself. and if we all take the American point of view. namely. that we want American life kept to its standards and that only the standards of American life shall be standards of restriction. then we are all upon a common giound. not of those who criticize immigration. but those who declare themselves Americans. * - * Of c3urse. if the immigrants aire allowed to come in uninstructed hosts. and to stop at the ports where they enter and there to compete in an oversupplied labor market. there is going to be unhappiness. there is going to be deterioration. there is going to be everything that will be detrimental to the immigrant. It will be noticed that the President used the expression uninstructed hosts." and said such immigration would result in unhappiness and in deterioration. Yet the President afterwards reversed himself and vetoed a bill which had no other purpose than to prevent the induced or undesirable immigration of "uninstructed hosts." And that is all this bill will do. I am convinced that the American people want this legislation. Farmers organizations. labor organizations. and other organizations have indorsed it.